Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to prioritiseassistance for Vietnam, while receiving Era Dabla-Norris, head of theorganisation’s Article IV Consultationof the Department of Asia-Pacific,in Hanoi on October 3.

The host leader appreciated IMF’sprecious assistance for Vietnam so far, including policy consultation,technical support, and personnel training, especially its analysis, assessment,and recommendations about economic governance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He alsoapplauded the fund’s timely and appropriate policy measures and response overthe last two years to help countries surmount the most trying times of thepandemic.

As Vietnam is a developing country conducting transition and still facing numerous difficulties, he askedthe IMF to increase policy advice on economic governance and risk response forthe Government and relevant agencies, continue providing training programmesand technical support on economic management, and actively help the country withgreen economy development, energy transition, climate change response, digitaltransformation, and the development of a digital economy and e-commerce.

For her part, Era Dabla-Norris congratulatedthe Vietnamese Government on socio-economic development achievements in 2022and previous years, noting that the economy has continued its success in 2021and 2022 compared to many other countries thanks to a successful vaccinationcampaign, strong and effective solutions taken by the Government, and the basesand stepping stones formed before the pandemic.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s monetaryand fiscal policies, she held that the harmonious combination of policy toolshas helped the Government control inflation, and that the socio-economicrecovery and development programme has been carried out steadily.

IMF predicted Vietnam’s 2022 GDP growthat some 7 - 7.5% and inflation lower than the ceiling target of 4% as well asin other countries in the region and the world. Besides, production andbusiness activities are bouncing back strongly and widely.

This is what the fund hasn’t seen in othereconomies, she said, noting that there are grounds to believe that the economicpanorama is generally positive despite external shocks. If solutions areproperly implemented, Vietnam is completely able to weather a difficult 2023and head towards a more positive 2024. Basic factors are solid and investorsstill put their trust in Vietnam, according to Era Dabla-Norris.

At themeeting, the IMF representative also raised many recommendations,including combining macro-policies in a prudent, concerted, unanimous andconsistent manner, properly implementing policy marketing to manage risks andmitigate policy selection’s impacts, and properly carrying out the recovery anddevelopment programme.

PM Chinh said the VietnameseGovernment and related agencies will continue considering the recommendationsto apply them to governance activities./.